Juveniles shot at while rolling principal’s yard in Estill Springs

An Estill Springs man has been arrested after authorities said he fired a 20-gauge shotgun at juveniles who were “toilet papering” a neighbor’s residence. According to police, the neighbor is the principal of the juveniles’ school.

Dale Bryant Farris, 65, of 125 Deer Circle, Estill Springs, was arrested by Franklin County sheriff’s deputies and was transported to the Franklin County Jail. His bond was set at $125,000.

Deputy Henry Buckner’s report of the incident stated he and Sgt. Milton Binkley responded to Deer Circle early Sunday morning in reference to numerous juveniles getting out of a truck at a residence.

As the truck attempted to leave, Binkley stopped the vehicle and saw juveniles in the back of the truck who allegedly had “rolled” Ken Bishop’s residence.

According to Buckner, one of the juveniles, a 15-year-old boy, said he’d been “shot with pellets” but wasn’t bleeding. Buckner then asked the boy if he needed medical attention, to which the boy said he was okay and would have his parents tend to it.

Buckner also stated in his report that moments later, police communications informed him that shots had been fired near Deer Circle. In speaking to residents, Buckner was advised that a man at 125 Deer Circle had fired several shots while the juveniles were on foot in the subdivision.

The officers then went to that house and confronted a man sitting on the porch who was later identified as Farris.

Farris told the officers that his wife woke him up after seeing the juveniles running across a field on the opposite side of the road from their residence. At the time, he said, he got a single-shot 20-gauge shotgun and fired two shots.

According to the deputy’s report, one of the shotgun blasts struck the 15-year-old in the right foot, inner left knee, right side above the waistline and top of the right thigh.

Buckner’s report further states that the juveniles had not been on Mr. Farris’ property or were attempting to cause any harm when the shots were fired.

Meanwhile, Bishop told officers he didn’t want any action taken against the juveniles for rolling his residence, mentioning they are students at the school where he is the principal.

Farris was taken into custody and transported to the Franklin County Jail on charges of aggravated assault and reckless endangerment. He is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 5.